Cell surface electrochemical heterogeneity of the Fe(III)-reducing bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens

Acid-base titration experiments and electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) were used to investigate the cell surface electrochemical heterogeneity of the Fe(III)-reducing bacteria, Shewanella putrefaciens. The acid-base titrations extended from pH 4 to 10; and the titration data were fit using a linear programming pK(a) spectrum approach. Overall, a five-site model ac-counted for the observed titration behavior with the most acidic sites corresponding to carboxylic groups and phosphodiester groups, intermediate: sites phosphoryl groups, and two basic sites equivalent to amine or hydroxyl groups. The pH for the point of zero charge on the bacteria was 5.4. In EFM images bf cells rinsed in solutions at pH 4.0, 7.0, and 8.0, a pronounced increase in small (less than or equal to 100 nm diameter) high contrast patches was observed on the cells with increasing pH. The pH dependence of EFM image contrast paralleled the pattern of cell surface charge development inferred from the titration experiments; however, quantitative; analysis of high Contrast regions in the EFM images yielded lower surface charge values than those anticipated from the titration data. For example at pH 7, the calculated surface; charge of high contrast regions in EFM images of the bacterial cells was -0.23 muC/cm(2) versus -20.0 muC/cm(2) based on the titration curve. The differences in surface charge estimates,between the EFM images and titration data are consistent not only with charge development throughout the entire-volume of the bacterial cell wall (i.e., in association with functional groups that are not directly exposed at the cell surface) but also with the presence of a thin structural layer of water containing charge-compensating counterions. In combination, the pK(a) spectra and EFM data demonstrate that a particularly high degree of electrochemical heterogeneity exists within the cell wall and at the cell surface of S. putrefaciens.